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There is a simple difference between a nucleus and a nucleon. A nucleus is at the center of an atom, and it is that collection of particles, protons and neutrons, that make up the nucleus of that atom. Because atomic nuclei are composed of protons and neutrons, we have come up with the term nucleon to describe any particle that makes up an atomic nucleus. That means either a proton or a neutron, when we talk about them as part of the nucleus of an atom, can be properly called a nucleon. The nucleus of an atom is said to be made up of nucleons. It's just that simple.

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13y ago
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15y ago

The difference between a nuclide and a nucleon is that nucleons determine which nuclide we're considering. Let's look. Nucleons are the particles that make up an atomic nucleus. That means either a proton or neutron in an atomic nucleus could be fairly referred to as a nucleon. The term nuclide is one that is applied to say something like "the atom that has a nuclear configuration of _____." In the nuclide helium-4, the helium atom has 4 nucleons. There are the 2 protons, naturally, and a pair (2) neutrons. The 4 nucleons give it that isotopic number 4. In hydrogen-2, this nuclide has 2 nucleons, a proton and a neutron, in its nucleus.

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14y ago
AnswerA nuclide is a specific type of nucleus. A nucleus is the central part of any atom or ion, which contains the protons and neutrons. A nuclide, also known as an isotope, is a nucleus with a specified number of both protons and neutrons. So, for example, we know that the element carbon always has six protons in its nucleus; that is what makes it carbon rather than a different element. But it can have different numbers of neutrons. So there is a carbon 12 nuclide, which has six protons and six neutrons, and also a carbon 14 nuclide which has six protons and eight neutrons. AnswerMy understanding of the term nuclide is slightly different. It is that the term indicates a nucleus of a particular number of protons and neutrons, with at least one electron attached. This means that the term nuclide refers to an atom or ion with a particular type of nucleus, rather than the particular nucleus itself. (Please correct me if I am wrong.)
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13y ago

The nucleus of a radioactive atom has an unusual number of neutrons, or is too large, and is unstable.

Carbon-12 (6 protons, six neutrons) is stable, but the isotope Carbon-14, with two extra neutrons, is unstable and thus radioactive, for example.

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13y ago

They are both the same thing, just different words to describe it.

nucleus is one of them and nuclei are two.

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9y ago

Nucleus is an area of the cell bounded by nuclear membrane, where chromatin and nucleolus reside. A Nucleoid is an area of the cytoplasm of the prokaryote where DNA is localized

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Q: What is the difference about the nucleus of a radioactive atom?
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Related questions

What are the characteristics of a atom?

A radioactive atom is an atom of an element with an unstable nucleus.


What is An unstable isotope is called what?

It isn't really an ELEMENT that is unstable, but an ISOTOPE. That means that in general, for the same element, some atoms will decay, and some will not - the difference being the number of neutrons in the nucleus.


Where in the atom do radioactive emissions originate?

They originate in the nucleus of the atom.


What is radioactive in physics?

the unstable nucleus of an atom


What is a characteristic of a radioactive nucleus?

A radioactive atom is an atom of an element with an unstable nucleus.


What is when the nucleus of an atom decomposes called?

radioactive decay


The nucleus or atom left behind when a nucleus disintegrates or splits is?

Sometimes radioactive


What is an atom which has unequal number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus?

Radioactive


The atom that remains after a nucleus disintegrates is what?

smaller than the original atom and possibly radioactive


What part of an atom causes radioactivity?

It is the nucleus of the atom that undergoes change during radioactive decay.


When the nucleus of an atom changes by emiting particles what is this called?

radioactive decay


Where does the energy released by a radioactive substance come from?

E=MC2. Mass from the nucleus of the radioactive atom is converted into energy.